As soon as he started reading Claire Chafee's 'Why We Have a Body' and noticed he was laughing out loud, William Morris, Civic Theatre's Technical Director knew he had found the perfect summer show for Civic. With strong female characters, all kinds of love, familial issues, comedy, drama, surprises, and a whole bunch of neurosis all masterly weaved into one jaw-dropping script “ what more could he want?
"The show starts with a bang and keeps on going from there," Morris explains excitedly. "Surprises keep popping up from the first moment!"
The play itself was itself was a surprise hit when it premiered at San Francisco's Magic Theatre in 1993. The run was so successful, that the company has revived it several times since. The play's original production received four San Francisco Dramalogue Awards and the Bay Area Critic's Circle Award for original script.
In 'Why We Have a Body', private investigator Lili is a lesbian who stalks guys cheating on their wives and romances confused married paleontologist named Renee. Lili has a sister, Mary, a mentally unhinged, career criminal who compulsively robs 7-Elevens at gunpoint.
But Mary is trying to make an effort to escape her criminal life, and Lili offers assistance. More than anything, Lili and Mary want to be family. But their mother, Eleanor, isn't on board. She has traded in her maternal role for the rugged life of an archaeologist-historian specializing in the female brain. 'Why We Have A Body' is an elegant, richly humorous production about all kinds of love ” romantic, family, sibling, lesbian, sexual ” and the sometimes strange but wonderful things that we do to satisfy our deepest desires and longings.
But Mary is trying to make an effort to escape her criminal life, and Lili offers assistance. More than anything, Lili and Mary want to be family. But their mother, Eleanor, isn't on board. She has traded in her maternal role for the rugged life of an archaeologist-historian specializing in the female brain. 'Why We Have A Body' is an elegant, richly humorous production about all kinds of love ” romantic, family, sibling, lesbian, sexual ” and the sometimes strange but wonderful things that we do to satisfy our deepest desires and longings.
Chafee describes her play as a kind of roller coaster ride. "Just when you think it is a straight up comedy some deeper questions get asked¦ and then it goes back to comedy," she says.
The production, which is directed by Morris, will continue its run at Civic's Theatre514 as part of Civic's SummerStage through August 26, 2012, at 8 p.m. Aug. 24, 25, 7 p.m. Aug 26 .
Tickets to 'Why We Have a Body' are $20 each and are available by calling the Civic Theatre Box Office at 610-432-8943 or online at www.CivicTheatre.com
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Directed by William Morris, the Civic production stars Casey Conan (Lilli), Jillian Lovejoy (Renee), Aubrie Therrian (Mary), and Patricia Welle (Eleanor).